Rodriguez: From The Shadows Of A ‘King’

[duncan228]

From The Shadows Of A ‘King’
Ken Rodriguez

A new Spur and the league’s reigning MVP share an obscure but remarkable bit of history, history that begins in the dusty gyms of Ohio and reaches across the Atlantic to the hardwood floors in Milan, Italy.

Back in the day, when Sports Illustrated anointed a high school junior from Akron as "The Chosen One," pronouncing the kid good enough to be an NBA lottery pick "right now," a smaller, less ethereal talent was leading the pack in a little-noticed sidebar for hoop aficionados: Who would be runner-up to LeBron James as Mr. Ohio Basketball?

The point guard who would win the honor was the object of an intense recruiting war among the likes of Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame. The runner-up was so good, he received his first college offer as an eighth grader. But in the widening media lights that swept over Ohio, Chris Quinn disappeared in the lengthening shadows of a 17-year-old dubbed, "King James."

Eight years later, Quinn sits in the Spurs locker room, an hour before tipoff against the Chicago Bulls, and reflects on his high school moniker: Mr. Ohio Basketball runner-up. "I guess, if there was any year to be in second place, that was the one," says Quinn, who broke 14 school records at Dublin Coffman High, averaged 22.4 points as a senior and was named Columbus Dispatch Player of the Year. "It was cool to be a part of that. It will make a good trivia question."

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[GrandeDavid]

Terrific read, thanks! I knew little about Chris Quinn's background and appreciated learning more about him. I hope he makes it with the Spurs!

[Spurs Brazil]

Props to Ken Rodriguez, another great read

[spursdotcom]

thanks again for posting duncan228

[jb4g]

I had no idea.....good stuff.

[Pauleta14]

Good read, I'd like so see more of him...

Let's hope for a blow out tonight so the bench guys have PT.